Artist Antonia Wright recently participated in the Florida International University Honors College's "Aesthetics & Values" exhibition. She found it to be a "phenomenal experience." The students, none of which are art majors, curated a show which is currently up at FIU's Frost Art Museum. Wright enjoyed working with the students whose disciplines were more finance than frescos. She was impressed by their enthusiasm, contrasted against the sometimes jaded art crowd.
FIU professor John Bailly teaches the Aesthetics and Values seminar, showing the students the role art plays in social and cultural events in history. These 64 honors students were helped along through the curatorial process by some of Miami's biggest names in art. Work by Daniel Arsham, Jose Bedia, Ivan Toth Depeña, Jacin Giordano, Fabian Peña, Karen Rifas, Cristina Lei Rodriguez, John Sanchez, Jen Stark, and Antonia Wright all challenge the concept of reality in this exhibition.
The students so liked one of Wright's videos of her screaming underwater that she created I Scream, Therefore I Exist, making a completely new piece of work for this exhibition. "So, I made it for them pretty much," said Wright. She believes the students learned and grew a lot from the experience, she thinks that from it, "they'll have a deeper appreciation for art."
"Aesthetics & Values" is up through April 17 at the Frost Art Museum (10975 SW 17th Street, Miami). It's closed Monday, but open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. On April 13, they'll be open till 9 p.m. Visit avexhibition.org.
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